17 April 2015, 21:54

GEORGE TOWN, April 17, 2015:

The Kedah government plans to expand the 1,796 hectares of the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) to develop and transform the state into a highly industrialised economic powerhouse.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said the plan was to create an additional area of more than 4,856 hectares at the KHTP within the next 20 years to cater to higher demand for industrial land from potential investors.

He said since starting operations in 1996, the KHTP had recorded a cumulative total investment of RM34 billion, with 34 big multinationals and home-grown technology-based companies establishing their footprints there.

“As part of the economic transformation, we have also proposed six catalytic projects, namely the Kulim International Airport (KXP), Aerospace City, Sungai Petani-Kedah Inner Expressway (SPIKE), Rubber City, Kedah Science and Technology Park and the Kedah Medical City.

“We are confident that all these initiatives will prove to the people that the state government is always pragmatic in its approach. This is alongside strategies to sustain a favourable investment ​climate in the country and state,” he added.

Mukhriz said this in his opening speech at the KHTP Appreciation Dinner at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel here today.

From January to September 2014, Kedah recorded 35 approved projects with a total proposed capital investment of RM4.5 billion, comprising RM4.1 billion in foreign investments and RM430,000 from locals.

Mukhriz said KHTP managed to chalk up RM3.9 billion in investments last year and continued to contribute significantly to total investments achieved by the state.

He said the data indicated strong growth recorded by Kedah, especially from foreign investments, with a staggering increase of RM4.03 billion in 2014.

“In 2013 alone, the Gross National Income (GNI) contributed ​by 28 big companies in KHTP was RM6.15 billion. We have also improved our ranking from seventh in 2013 to sixth in 2014, in terms of attracting foreign investors,” he added.

He said the figures prove that KHTP was highly viable and profitable and had consistently contributed directly towards the economic development of the country as a whole.

Source: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/04/17/kedah-to-expand-kulim-hi-tech-park-land-to-attract-more-investors/

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